What is your opinion of the United States?

[Dauphin]

Most Americans are dumb or ignorant.

But then that's not much different to any other country. It only seems worse in the US because its a big country with a strong voice such that the rest of the world can hear the ignorance.

At any rate, most USians can afford to be ignorant about the world because they are not likely to leave their country or have any need to know about the rest of the world. Of course this does not make it a good thing.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Azazel
I think that arabs have themselves to blame for being in the grips of Islamists.

That is clear. The people who constintly try to seek a foriegn (usually western) scape goat to blame the problems of [insert country or religious group here] are barking up the wrong tree. At the end of the day the Arabs themselves are responsible for having autocratic regimes, for nurturing religious fundalmentalism (not that contray to what some people think all religious feeling is not fundamentalism), creating failed socialist/protectionist economies which don't grow, for putting up with rampent corruption and lawlessness, and for poisoning the minds of their people with facist hate.

[Whaleboy]

I think most Americans are perfectly reasonable, intelligent, thinking people that do no conform to the stereotype of the ignorant redneck that thinks we live in planet America.

However, I do believe that many Americans are patriotic, a niche of that particular culture perhaps, as well as an amount of conservatism that is disturbingly high from a British/European perspective. My views on patriotism and conservatism are probably known by now, so I wont repeat myself, suffice to say that IMO both are very harmful in the long term to all.

Theres a danger with this kind of thread that we all resort to the stereotypes that, one way or another, have been rammed down our throats for years, for example in Britain, we have a love/hate relationship with the USA, and with such extremes, fallacious stereotypes will inevitably occur.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Azazel
Personally I think that to a certain degree, this is true. The Islamists hate the modern culture for it's freedom. I see nothing stupid in that.

They hate it for it's moral depravity, which overlaps freedom to some extent. If you read al Qutb or al Maududi, it's clear that any deviation from Sharia, even if nearly equivalent, but man-made, is unacceptable. Man-made laws and government are also an offense to Allah, no matter how socially conservative, or not.

They hate the Saudi government, which is hardly a bastion of either legislative or social freedoms.

The big reason why we're the chosen object of hatred is we clearly have the power to derail the radical Islamification of the entire Islamic world.

[Sava]

love your country, hate your government... same sh1t different day

[Whaleboy]

They hate it for it's moral depravity, which overlaps freedom to some extent.

And the West despises Sharia culture for the same reason. One coin, two sides, their culture is as valid as ours, lets not get into "my culture is the best because...", as the reasons used there are only to back up our position, have no hold on the other.

[monolith94]

"Most Americans are dumb or ignorant."

The vast majority of Europeans are unsubtle buffallo.

[Dauphin]

You did read the sentences after that didn't you?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by monolith94
The vast majority of Europeans are unsubtle buffallo.

Sorry, no buffaloes here
(mind you, no buffaloes in the US too )

[Vandal-1]

If we as Americans are ignorant to the 'real' attitudes of the Arabs or I think the 3rd world altogether it's a result of media 'arguements from ignorance and for ignorance' up to the point that indifference sets in.
IMO there's too much hype too little fact which people base decisions to act or not on.

[Imran Siddiqui]

AMERICA ROXORZ EVERYONES SUXORZ!!



And yes most Americans know when we **** up. There are very, very few people who think Vietnam was a good idea . It's an interesting mix in the US though, patriotism coupled with a distrust of government. One makes you more favorable to the government, the other not so much. We all think our politicians are crooks, but love the system.

[DanS]

mind you, no buffaloes in the US too"

Sure there are.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by monolith94
"Most Americans are dumb or ignorant."

The vast majority of Europeans are unsubtle buffallo.

I´m really angry ´bout that "unsubtle"

[HershOstropoler]

Indeed, he should have called us "oversophisticated buffalos" at least.

[DanS]

Re American ignorance, I think it's less than most places. On average, Americans go to lots more school than most others. Combined with the fact that the US is rather large, the US produces a high proportion of the thought that goes into the creation and perpetuatoin of the modern world model.

Re American stupidity, I guess we're about average. But in my opinion, stupidity is much less prevalent than many make it out. Otherwise, democracy would never survive. The vast majority of people know their own interests, if nothing else.